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Nicola Sturgeon: SNP wants 10 per cent cycling share by 2020 – but campaigners already say “no way” that will be hit

Scotland's First Minister is latest party leader to respond to #ChooseCycling campaign ...

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who many believe will hold the balance of power in the UK after next week’s general election, says the Scottish National Party wants 10 per cent of journeys in Scotland to be made by bike by 2020 – though campaigners said just six months ago there was “no way” it would be met.

The target was originally announced in the Cycling Action Plan for Scotland (CAPS), first unveiled in 2010 and revised two years ago.

But last November, the country’s former transport minister, Keith Brown, said it was more of a “vision” than a target.

While progress has been made to grow the share of cycling for journeys in Scotland – notably, Edinburgh, Moray and Inverness are all around that 10 per cent mark at least for commuter trips – nationally, the picture is little changed.

Earlier this month, Keith Irving, chief executive of Cycling Scotland, said the target was “ambitious but achievable" although he added it would need "a step change in the amount of effort required to help achieve it."

Cycling campaigners are less optimistic, however. In November, campaign group Pedal on Parliament had told Holyrood’s infrastructure and capital investment committee that “there is certainly no way that the current rate of progress, nor that the current Cycling Action Plan for Scotland approach will achieve anything like the growth required.”

Like all leaders of the main parties, whether fielding candidates across the UK or just in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, Ms Sturgeon had been asked by the #ChooseCycling network of British businesses to outline her party’s position.

Sturgeon, who became the country’s First Minister after Alex Salmond resigned in the wake of last September’s referendum which saw 55 per cent of those who voted wanting Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom, is not herself standing for election next week.

She explained that since “policy over transport, including cycling, is reserved to the Scottish Parliament,” which the SNP controls, “I will take this opportunity to highlight the SNP’s actions on cycling” – in other words, what it is doing at Holyrood, where the next election is due to take place in May next year.

She said: “The SNP Government is proud to be delivering the largest ever investment in cycling and walking in Scotland. We are investing almost £40 million in active travel and much of this investment is matched by partners – for example through the Community Links programme Sustrans generated some £25 million match funding [in] 2014/15.

“This funding will help support delivery of our ambition to see 10 per cent of all everyday journeys made by bicycle by 2020. The updated Cycling Action Plan for Scotland 2013 sets out what more needs to be done to enable progress towards this shared aspirational vision.”

She continued: “The Scottish Government are working with partners to make Scotland’s roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists.

Ms Sturgeon said, “We have developed guidance for local authorities on 20mph limits and zones,” which she insisted would give “greater clarity” to councils considering implementing lower speed limits.

“The Scottish Government will also continue to support the development of the National Cycle Network and its eventual completion in the years to come.”

She added: “We believe active travel should be part of everyday life from the earliest years. We now have 38 per cent of primary schools offering Bikeability Scotland on-road cycle training. This is up from 23 per cent just three years ago. This all achieved through Scottish Government funding, and Cycling Scotland.”

If the SNP is so committed to achieving that 10 per cent goal, however, and given it has a majority at Holyrood and transport is a devolved topic, some might wonder why it has not followed the lead of the Welsh Assembly Government which in 2013 brought in the Active Travel Act.

The legislation was described at the time by Sustrans Cymru as a “world first,” with the sustainable transport charity’s director for the country saying, “the passing of this legislation shows that Wales’s leadership is serious about making walking and cycling the normal choice for more of our everyday shorter journeys.”

Commenting on Sturgeon’s letter, British Cycling policy advisor Chris Boardman seemed unaware that the 10 per cent share by 2020 target had been set five years ago, or of campaigners’ concern halfway through the 10-year period that it wouldn’t be met.

He said in a press release: “It’s encouraging to see the SNP commit to our 10 per cent target of everyday trips being made by bicycle.

“They pledge to do this by 2020 – five years earlier than our ask of 2025.

“Nicola Sturgeon cites funding that is already going towards cycling in Scotland but it would be even better to see an annual transport funding commitment towards cycling, as active travel, that is more in line with achieving the target of 10 per cent of journeys by bike.”

Last weekend, the SNP’s Derek Mackay, who succeeded Mr Brown as transport minister in the Scottish Government in November, told the fourth annual Pedal on Parliament ride: “I can assure you that I hear your message that every politician should do more for cycling.

“There's a long way to go but my assurance to you is that as the new minister for transport is that I will do everything I can to support cycling as much as I can.

“My commitment for 2015/16 is the government will spend more on cycling than the record breaking previous year.

“We'll put our money where our mouth is to invest in infrastructure so that cycling is seen as a proper mode of transport – across a range of policies.”

He added: “There's consensus across the political parties to invest in cycling, and at local level. I commend Edinburgh council for leading the way on 20mph limits and I will make it as easy as possible for other councils to follow suit."

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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20 comments

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Kim | 9 years ago
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Why is this presented as a news story? The first Cycling Action Plan for Scotland has been around since 2010. Now if the Scottish Government were to make a real effort to hit the 10% target which it set its self, that would be a news story!

Hey if Finland can achieve 10% modal share for cycling (which it currency does nationally), why not Scotland?

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harrybav | 9 years ago
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Just to chip in - people who live in Scotland have been steeped in referendum arguments for much longer than you equally nice fellows down south. Pointing out the various argument bullet points of either side is not necessary as we know them and the responses and the rebuttals to the responses and the reactions to the rebuttals to the responses and the replies to the reactions to the rebuttals to the responses and if you think this sentence is getting boring imagine hearing the more obvious of the bullet points for the 10000000th time. Actually, I've changed my view, I don't actually mind, and tbh, it's nice that people are interested in the topic but I'm a slow typist and loath to delete this now.  36

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a_to_the_j | 9 years ago
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politicians promises - YAWN.

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bikewithnoname | 9 years ago
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Unfortunately given that the SNP are likely to make a clean sweep in Scotland during the general election, and will likely force another Yes/No referendum in 2016, Scotland will be unable to afford any investment in cycling as they will be struggling to fill the £9bn/annum financing gap that the SNP seem to ignore/deny/sweep under the carpet.

Shame really, it’s a lovely place.

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OldRidgeback replied to bikewithnoname | 9 years ago
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bikewithnoname wrote:

Unfortunately given that the SNP are likely to make a clean sweep in Scotland during the general election, and will likely force another Yes/No referendum in 2016, Scotland will be unable to afford any investment in cycling as they will be struggling to fill the £9bn/annum financing gap that the SNP seem to ignore/deny/sweep under the carpet.

Shame really, it’s a lovely place.

The £9 billion gap in the SNP's finance calculations of course is the fault of MI5 and the BBC.

 1

All the gullible lemmings voting SNP will get of course is another five years of Conservative government. Cycling barely figures on the radar of any political party apart from the greens.

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matheson replied to OldRidgeback | 9 years ago
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OldRidgeback wrote:

All the gullible lemmings voting SNP will get of course is another five years of Conservative government.

Which would then give them the ammunition to push for another referendum. Bit of a win/win whatever the outcome for the Nats & their sheep.  17

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Das replied to matheson | 9 years ago
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OldRidgeback wrote:

The £9 billion gap in the SNP's finance calculations of course is the fault of MI5 and the BBC.
All the gullible lemmings voting SNP will get of course is another five years of Conservative government. Cycling barely figures on the radar of any political party apart from the greens.

matheson wrote:

Which would then give them the ammunition to push for another referendum. Bit of a win/win whatever the outcome for the Nats & their sheep.  17

LoL, you pair should be on stage........
Oldridgeback, and whos fault will the next Tory government be? Oh Yes Ed "I Dont Want To Be Prime Minister" Milliband..... Talk about shooting yourself in the foot  24
Remind me how much the UK deficit was when Labour left office and how much it is now under the Tories? And to think that The Labrotories want to spend another £100bn replacing a weapon we've never used, are never likely to use, and no longer need.
Its a bit weird how last September it was "Please Stay, We're Better Together" , now its "Oh God We Don't Want You Here Anymore, Your Splitting The Country!"

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OldRidgeback replied to Das | 9 years ago
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Das wrote:
OldRidgeback wrote:

The £9 billion gap in the SNP's finance calculations of course is the fault of MI5 and the BBC.
All the gullible lemmings voting SNP will get of course is another five years of Conservative government. Cycling barely figures on the radar of any political party apart from the greens.

matheson wrote:

Which would then give them the ammunition to push for another referendum. Bit of a win/win whatever the outcome for the Nats & their sheep.  17

LoL, you pair should be on stage........
Oldridgeback, and whos fault will the next Tory government be? Oh Yes Ed "I Dont Want To Be Prime Minister" Milliband..... Talk about shooting yourself in the foot  24
Remind me how much the UK deficit was when Labour left office and how much it is now under the Tories? And to think that The Labrotories want to spend another £100bn replacing a weapon we've never used, are never likely to use, and no longer need.
Its a bit weird how last September it was "Please Stay, We're Better Together" , now its "Oh God We Don't Want You Here Anymore, Your Splitting The Country!"

Err, no, no and no. Oh, and no.

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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Is there an election then?

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Kim | 9 years ago
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Having heard Derek MacKay talk the talk last weekend at PoP, I know the SNP think there are votes in this, but that actually have to walk the walk, hot air is no use to us. If they were serious then they need to show real intention and not just half measures.

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stenmeister | 9 years ago
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What they can't change is the Scottish weather. Last weather 18c, this week snow. Sometimes only dedicated cyclists go out.

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teaboy replied to stenmeister | 9 years ago
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stenmeister wrote:

What they can't change is the Scottish weather. Last weather 18c, this week snow. Sometimes only dedicated cyclists go out.

I'll assume that Copenhagen is a balmy 22 degrees all year round - there can't possibly be a different reason for the modal share, can there?

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Das | 9 years ago
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In Edinburgh, at times, 1in 10 journeys are by bike already, so lets face it it is doable by giving people who know what they are doing the task of implimenting the changes. Unfortunelty what will happen is half the money disappears on consultations, red tape, wasted jaunts to foriegn countries etc etc etc instead of just getting something done.

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joebee9870 replied to Das | 9 years ago
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Someone made those figures up. While driving home one day.

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harrybav | 9 years ago
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She's committing to 10% of journeys by bike? Is she committing to 10% of road width for bikes? I'm optimistic on the wider politics, big snp guy, but they are blustering here. £40m is less than £1 a head over the decade and "active travel" is not cycling. And Sustrans, always there to help, will munch down a nice chunk of cash to rebrand the west highland way as a cycle route, I'm sure.

Bikeability, survival strategies to encourage kids onto killer infrastructure, is pretty much the opposite of the Dutch "Stop The Child Murders" campaign that got their modern safe infrastructure started. I'd rather we funded some corporate manslaughter cases to wake up local authority planning departments.

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oldstrath | 9 years ago
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It's a shame they have no useful clue how to bring this about. They do know how to throw money away on new roads, and on building cycle paths with no real use. Also a shame they rejected presumed liability because they were feart of yhe motor lobby. Talk a good game, do nowt.

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oldstrath replied to oldstrath | 9 years ago
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By the way, I'm not claimimg that any other party, except possibly the Greens, would be any less useless.

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OldRidgeback replied to oldstrath | 9 years ago
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oldstrath wrote:

By the way, I'm not claimimg that any other party, except possibly the Greens, would be any less useless.

The SNP are great at making promises they can't possibly deliver. In this respect the party is no different from any other, but what concerns me is that so many seem to believe they're voting for something new when in fact all they'll get is the same old empty promises.

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userfriendly replied to OldRidgeback | 9 years ago
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OldRidgeback wrote:

The SNP are great at making promises they can't possibly deliver. In this respect the party is no different from any other, but what concerns me is that so many seem to believe they're voting for something new when in fact all they'll get is the same old empty promises.

I think most people vote SNP because they want to see more devolution, not more cyclists. To a large majority in Scotland, and indeed the UK, cycling is a non-issue.

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Matt eaton replied to userfriendly | 9 years ago
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userfriendly wrote:

I think most people vote SNP because they want to see more devolution, not more cyclists. To a large majority in Scotland, and indeed the UK, cycling is a non-issue.

I agree with you but the reason that cycling is seen as a non-issue is that it is still talked about as a stand-alone concept rather than a feature in the wider environment of travel and our local street scenes. Cycling in itself is a non-issue but congestion, pollution, rat runs through residential areas etc. are things that people care about and cycling needs to be thought of as part of the solution to these problems. Ask almost any politician about transport and they'll rattle on about roads and HS2; I suspect that you would have to prompt them to include their thoughts on cycling.

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